Six hundred real estate agents in the US were recently polled by HomeGain in the annual Home Sale Maximizer Survey.
The survey asked agents to list their top picks for home improvements that help sellers get the best return on investment (ROI).
Staging made it to number 3 on the list behind lightening and brightening and cleaning and decluttering (which interestingly enough are all important components of staging!).
Thousands of sellers each year use the Home Sale Maximizer survey as a guide when getting their homes ready to sell.
The spring real estate market starts at the end of February in most places. How are you marketing your home staging business so these motivated home sellers will be able to find you?
Debra Gould, The Staging Diva®
President, Six Elements Home Staging
Debra Gould knows how to make money as a home stager and she developed the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program to teach others how to earn a living doing something they love. She is frequently profiled in the media for her home staging expertise and is the author of 5 guides for home stagers.
Somehow, I always find the HomeGain survey depressing…..maybe because as a stager I, and all the stagers I know, do almost everything on the list……..and HomeGain and the agents surveyed don’t seem to get it. Don’t seem to understand what stagers do. Look at the ‘staging’ checklist – make pretty, make the beds, light a fire in the fireplace, put cedar chips in the closet and fresh flowers on the kitchen table. Of all the things I do, risking an untended fire and stirring up allergic reactions in potential buyers do not make my top-ten list.
Nancy, only use what’s helpful from the survey and ignore the rest. I do know what you mean though.
As for untended fires, totally agree with you! I never light candles either.
Does anyone know of a comparative survey for Canadian Home Stagers. I love throwing dependable statistics at potential customers! I am contemplating setting up a booth in our local Home & Garden show in an attempt to “woo” would-be home sellers and “improvers”. It sure would be nice to share some stats like “90% of today’s home buyers are looking on the internet before they even view a property!”
Jackie, I wouldn’t get too caught up in trying to gather statistics. To see what I mean, check out this story “Home Stagers, watch the power of home staging stories over staging statistics.”